RomanceEverAfter

Romantic Tales - Historical

All In A Days Work

In 1800, most Americans worked at home on the farm.  In fact, a significant percentage of the population remained on the farm until after the Civil War.  However, by the mid part of the century, there are those who traded farm life for work in the city.  The workers found employment in the factories. 

The working environments were extremely difficult.  Unsafe working conditions, long hours, and low wages made for a dismal situation for many.

Women & Children in the Work Force

An increasing number of women were joining the working class.  Nearly 40,000 women were working full-time in New York in 1870.  Women worked sewing garments in factories.  Others were clerks, governesses and teachers.  The challenge for these women is they made a fraction of the wages received by men. 

During this period of American labor history, children were working in the factories as well.  In 1870, nearly 700,000 children worked without the protection of child labor practices.  Long hours (10-12 hours a day), low pay and dangerous working environments created a horrible situation for children.  This practice continued well to the end of the 19th century.

Overall, the 19th century was a miserable period for those who worked in the factories.  The long hours, discrimination, lack of health considerations, and poor wages made for a challenging position.

Other Occupations in the 19th Century

The varied occupations were as diverse as they are today.  If one wasn't a farmer or factory worker, other positions were filled to bring home money to feed your family.  Here are some occupations that are not always addressed:

Chimney Sweep:  Fireplaces and wood stoves were widely used in the 19th century.  As a result, a chimney sweep would be employed to keep the chimney cleaned to avoid fire. 

Circuit Rider (Preacher or Judge): A preacher or judge who traveled from town to town to serve the spiritual or legal needs of a small populace. 

Ice Cutter:  The ice cutter was the individual who cut blocks of ice from ponds and lakes during the winter time.  The ice would be maintained in layers of sawdust to sell in the warm season.

Lamplighter:  Streetlights needed to be lit in the evening and extinguished in the early morning.  The lamplighter served this purpose.  Many lamplighters also served as the night watchman or policeman.

Occupations in Historical Romance Novels

Within romance novels, the periodic coachman, constable, or footman appears.  What was the purpose of these different occupations?

Coachman:  The coachman drove the coach.  He was also known as a "whip."

Constable:  The constable was the policeman for the first half of the 19th century.

Footman:  A footman rode outside on the back of the coach.  His job was to open doors for passengers and load packages and luggage.  The wealthy were the only people who could afford to employ a footman.

Hackman/Hack Driver:  Similar to a cab driver in modern times, a hackman was a hired driver of a coach or carriage.

Return to Home Page